An Introductory Guide to Trucking Accounting in 2022

While available for businesses of all sizes, Rigbooks is designed for owner operators and small fleets. The software enables manual expense logging with categorization options and the ability to set up recurring expenses. It tracks both fixed and variable costs but lacks the functionality to track the checking or credit card account used. Profit and loss reports are available and can be customized for multiple trucks, showing key financial metrics such as total loaded miles and revenue per truck. Rigbooks supports IFTA compliance by tracking mileage per jurisdiction and providing detailed information for tax reporting.

How Much Does Trucking Accounting Software Cost?

A chart of accounts is an accounting tool that categorizes your business income and expenses. Trucking companies often have a unique chart of accounts because revenue and expenses are quite different from other businesses. For example, trucking companies will likely include a gas general ledger account surcharge income account and a gross trucking income account. Tailwind TMS provides a full range of invoicing and bill payment features. It’s an ideal solution for businesses needing a comprehensive trucking management system.

1. A chart of accounts is an accounting tool that categorizes your business income and expenses.
2. You can calculate how much cash on hand you need pretty easily as long as you have your financial data in your spreadsheets or business accounting software.
3. While general accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks are effective, trucking-specific software that incorporates the unique aspects of trucking finances is ideal.
4. However, some companies use other solutions for those tasks and find Quickbooks meets their accounting needs.

Owner operators and small fleet owners may have a hard time justifying the higher cost of a full TMS if they are unlikely to use the extra features. For example, most small business owners can only take 50% of meal expenses, but truckers are allowed to take 80% of either their actual costs or per diem allowances. In addition, ignoring your accounting for more than a couple of months means you’ll likely miss one or more tax due dates. If you fail to make estimated tax payments, submit your IFTA reports, or file Form 2290 on time, you’ll face penalties and interest.

Q7 by Frontline Software Technology‍‍ Great TMS with Accounting

This level of complexity and calculating present and future value of annuities analysis is critical for more extensive operations, where financial accuracy and strategic planning are vital for sustained success. It gives a complete picture of a trucking company’s money situation and helps businesses make informed decisions. For example, if trucking companies watch their income and expenses, they can spot trends in how they make money. Trucking accounting refers to the financial management of a business in the trucking industry.

Operating Cash: Paying Bills on Time

He has been an auditor of international companies and a tax strategist for real estate investors. He now writes articles on personal and corporate finance, accounting and tax matters, and entrepreneurship. That’s another reason paying for tax services is essential for the transportation business. Because working in the trucking industry involves taking on significant risk, you’re often better off taking the time to form a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. While they’re theoretically distinct, the line between them is somewhat blurred. Here’s what you need to know about trucking accounting, including how to set up an effective system and some common mistakes to avoid.

For example, trucking companies must pay the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax or Form 2290. You’ll also have to pay income taxes, employment taxes and a fuel tax to the International Fuel Tax Association or IFTA. This will give you the chance to try it out before you commit to it, which can make it possible for you to ensure your trucking accounting software is easy to use. However, different software has different features and pricing, so it’s important to take your time and intentionally choose the best accounting software for a trucking company for you. These are six of the best accounting software for a trucking company in the industry to make managing your finances easier and more efficient. It’s also how you gauge the success of your business and determine if you’re able to grow.

Trucking accounting software can help create a chart of accounts that understanding the cost of bookkeeping for small businesses aligns with the needs of your trucking business. Trucking companies may take very different approaches to bookkeeping depending on their size, time in business, and plans to expand. At its most basic, bookkeeping can be tracked manually with ledger books or spreadsheets.

Are you looking for ways to expand your business or cover operating expenses? In addition to keeping records of your expenses, you should have documents that prove their validity, such as receipts, trip logs, and account statements. After all, forecasting and understanding your cash flow benefits your business beyond just taxes.